South Beach Township

Details:

  • Bahamian Government

  • New Providence Island, The Bahamas

Highlights:

  • 250-acre model new town plan for an area south of Downtown Nassau
  • One-week long design charrette to development a master plan
  • Based on historic town plan patterns in Nassau

Description:

TSW was commissioned by the Bahamian government to create a model for new town development on a 250-acre tract four miles south of downtown Nassau, known as South Beach Township. Working in partnership with Bahamian architecture firm Alexiou & Associates, Steve Mouzon, and other team members, TSW completed a week-long charrette in the Bahamas as part of its work to create the new town.

The charrette brought together engineers, environmentalists, government officials and other stakeholders for an intensive, interactive process of defining goals for the new community. Among the goals to emerge from the sessions were to create a town that:

  • Reflects and respects Bahamian values and culture

  • Provides community facilities, shops and public spaces within a short walk for residents

  • Offers a range of housing options for Bahamians of varying ages, incomes and lifestyles

  • Celebrates the rich heritage of Bahamian architecture and design

  • Minimizes negative impacts to the environment

  • Establishes a balanced transportation system focused on walking, bicycling and the existing jitney service

  • Makes efficient use of public funds for both project development and maintenance

  • The Master Plan organizes the township into a series of walkable neighborhoods with centers anchored by commercial and civic uses, higher density housing and central public spaces. Streets will be slow-speed and tree-lined with sidewalks, linear parks and off-street bicycle paths.

South Beach Township is based on 200-year-old patterns evident in Nassau’s town plan, will include 3,000 residential units, both single and multi-family. There will be live/work business space in each center, along with community services like childcare, schools, churches, parks and a cinema. The government hopes to relocate ministry offices to South Beach Township from downtown Nassau in order to introduce a ‘reverse commute’ option for island residents. Bike/pedestrian trails and street improvements will link the new town with surrounding neighborhoods to enhance connectivity on the island.